TORONTO — The Young and the Restless star Kristoff St. John and his ex-wife, boxer Mia St. John, are suing a mental health facility, alleging it failed to prevent the suicide of their son.
The parents of Julian St. John, who took his life last November, filed a wrongful death lawsuit against Telecare Corporation, owner of La Casa Mental Health Rehabilitation Center in Long Beach, California.
They allege their son died due to “widespread and pervasive” negligence at a facility that acted without “even the slightest regard for Julian’s safety.”
Julian was only days away from his 25th birthday when he took his life. Following his suicide, his mother said on social media that he had “fought long and hard against an illness for which there is no cure.”
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The St. John’s lawsuit alleges staff at La Casa failed to check on Julian for nearly an hour, even though he was supposed to be checked every 15 minutes. It also claims a 911 call wasn’t made for nearly 30 minutes and that the facility falsified records following Julian’s death.
The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages.
None of the allegations have been proven in court.
In a statement, La Casa said it has not yet been served with the lawsuit. “We believe it is important to state that the California Department of Health Care Services reviewed the case and on May 5, 2015 found that La Casa was in compliance with all applicable licensing laws and regulations,” it read.
“Similarly, the Los Angeles Department of Mental Health concluded that Mr. St. John’s treatment and care at La Casa was reasonable and in line with clinical procedures, given his mental condition.”
Kristoff St. John, who has played Neil Winters on Y&R since 1991, told ET on Tuesday he hopes the lawsuit highlights “the inefficiency and the incompetency that happens in mental hospitals nationwide.”
He added: “People should never die in the hospital for lack of care.”
On Twitter, St. John said he is “going to war” for justice and vindication “for my son Julian and those that suffer from mental illness.”
Mia St. John took to Twitter to thank “boxing & Y&R fans from the bottom of our hearts as we seek #JusticeForJulian.”
The Young and the Restless airs weekdays on Global.
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